Best Knife Steel

Best Knife Steel

Choosing the Best Knife Blade | Source

Best Knife Steel

What is the best steel for a knife blade? This question really depends on what you intent to use your knife for. Generally when we look for the best knife steel material, we are looking for a steel that has a high corrosion resistance, is a hard material that does not easily deform, chip or crack, we also want the blade to retain an edge and is easily sharpened.

Corrosion Resistance ( Rust Resistance )

Corrosion resistance. All stainless steels have some level of corrosion resistance, saying that stainless steel is 100% corrosion resistant would be misleading. The higher the resistance the less maintenance is required, but that does not necessarily mean that the blade with the highest resistance is the best, there is always a pro and con to every type of material you choose. Generally a steel with a higher percentage of chromium has a higher resistance to staining ( rusting ).

Source

Rockwell Scale ( How Hard is Your Blade )

Hardness of the steel would really depend on what you want to use your knife for, if you are looking for a filleting knife, then you would want your blade to be a little bit flexible, on the other hand if you are planning to use your knife for heavy use, you would need a much harder material, but if you chose a material that is too hard, it becomes brittle, there is a fine line that a knife buyer walks when choosing the blades hardness.

Luckily there is a system to measure the hardness of a blade called the Rockwell Hardness Scale. This makes it easier for a knife buyer to choose the hardness of a blade. The Rockwell hardness scale uses a simple numerical system to signify the different levels of hardness, the higher the value the harder the material. If the steel has a very high number on the scale it will generally hold an edge longer, but it will be more brittle, while if it is very low on the scale it will be flexible but it will not hold an edge for very long, although re-sharpening will be easier.

Choosing the hardness of your blade will depend very much on what you intent to use the knife for, and what your personal preferences are. The Rockwell Scale system is often abbreviated to just the first two letters and a number ( eg. RC56 )

A Hard Axe

Source

Toughest Knife ( How Much Impact Can it Take )

Choosing a material with the highest Rc rating is not always a good idea, generally the harder a knife is the more brittle it is, this is an important factor for most knife users. The best knife steel will be just the right balance of hardness and toughness. Thus preventing chipping, cracking and even in some cases shattering of the knife. High impact tasks such as chopping wood, will definitely increase the chances of chipping the blade. When referring to how tough a blade is, we are generally referring to how much impact and shock it can take.

Flexible Blade

Source

Scratch Resistance ( How Much Wear and Tear can your Blade Endure )

Scratch resistance is measured using the Mohs system of measuring a materials resistance to scratchs and abrasion, It was invented by Friedrich Mohs in 1812 a renowned geologist/mineralogist of his time. The Mohs scales measures a minerals ability to resist scratches from other minerals.

Edge Retention ( How Often do you Have to Resharpen your Blade )

The ability to retain an edge is a consideration for most knife buyers, but as with any choice a person makes there is always a trade off. The longer a blade holds an edge the harder it is to re-sharpen, a slightly blunt blade might not be an important consideration if you are planning to use your knife for rough use, such as chopping, while on the other hand a sharp blade is an important prerequisite if you are a whittler.

Buck

Gerber Bear

12 Of The Most Common Types Of Steel.

Name

Attribute

Rockwell scale

420

Not the hardest or toughest steel out there, is easy to re-sharpen, very good corrosion resistance. A decent medium range blade material.

RC 48 – 53

420 HC

The HC stands for High Carbon, an improved higher performance steel then the 420, it has a higher corrosion resistance, is harder and holds an edge better, the disadvantage is it is more difficult to sharpen

RC58

440 A

High Carbon stainless steel, well balanced material, high corrosion resistance, good edge retention, easy to resharpen

RC 55 – 57

440 B

Improved version of 440 A

RC 56 - 60

440 C

the best of the 440 series, but also the most expensive.

RC 58 – 60

CPM S30V

An American made steel, exceptional corrosion resistance, edge retention and toughness. Takes a very good edge and is in fact one of the better choices for a blade.

RC 58 - 60

S30V

A perfect blend of carbon,vanadium, chromium and molybdenum, extremely hard and tough, excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance, the down side is it it takes a lot more effort to sharpen after it gets dulled. The best knife steel for pocket knives.

RC 59 - 61

5150

A very hard, tough carbon steel material , best suited to axes, machetes and tools that are meant for high impact, chopping or throwing use, keep oiled and clean after use, it tends to rust.

RC 55 – 60

N690

Nearly identical to the 440c in specifications and performance.

RC 58 – 60

Damascus

A blend of different steels, which is visible in the myriad patterns on the blade, acid etched to bring out the natural patterns, it is one of the more expensive materials used for knives, a hard, tough material with good corrosion resistance, very often used in higher end blades, Highly recommended, if you can afford it, one of the best knife steel materials.

RC 53 – 62

ATS-34

A hard stainless steel, high carbon, chromium, steel, that holds an edge well, but is difficult to resharpen.

RC 60 - 61

AUS-10

A well balanced steel, made in japan to compete with the 440C, it might even be a little tougher. a good blade material

8RC 57 - 60

Buck 192BR Vanguard, Fixed Blade Knife

Boker Plus Ebony Damascus

Choose Wisely

There are dozens of different types of stainless steel and carbon steel blades on the market, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, knowing what the knife is going to be used for is essential in choosing the best knife steel for you. Choose wisely and you will have a knife that will serve its purpose for years if not generations.

Comments

No HTML is allowed in comments, but URLs will be hyperlinked. Comments are not for promoting your articles or other sites.

sending

Ed Palumbo 3 years agofrom Tualatin, OR

I enjoyed reading your article and hope to read more from you on similar topics.

Kenneth Avery 4 years agofrom Hamilton, Alabama

You are very welcome, ketage!

I have a good collection of knives that I've collected over the years, but nothing like this hub--simply amazing.

Keep up the great work!

Author

ketage 4 years agofrom Croatia

Hello Kenneth, thanks for commenting, Sorry it took me so long to reply, Weekends is family time for me, picnic and shopping was on the menu this weekend. Great will power you have there, no way could I resist opening up the box and admiring a new knife :) But then curiosity has always been one of my failings, sigh

Kenneth Avery 4 years agofrom Hamilton, Alabama

Wonderful hub, wonderful topic, and wonderful writer. Very well-presented. I too, am a fan of blades, but only as a small-time collector. Matter of fact. Just today, June 1, I received a Dale Earnhardt, Jr., knife, signed on the blade, and still in the box. I am not about to open it. It might be valuable someday.

I voted UP and away on your hub.

I extend to you, my personal invitation to check out a few of my hubs and then be my follower. I would consider this a great honor. That way we could keep in touch--sharing ideas about hubs and essays and such.

Keep up the great work.

Your friend, Kenneth

Author

ketage 4 years agofrom Croatia

Thanks for commenting Outbound Dan, the VG-10 is indeed a very good material for a knife, I see from your hub on ( The Best Knives for Backpacking: Choosing the Right Outdoor Knife ) that you have a nice collection.

Dan Human 4 years agofrom Niagara Falls, NY

This is a very useful guide for different types of steel. My favorite is VG-10, I have that on a few of my Spydercos. Though it is hard to hone without a sharpening system, the edge holds forever and is quite durable.